Hoyer and Pelosi Reward Themselves With More Days Off

Hoyer and Pelosi think they have done such a good job this year, so they will reward themselves by giving the House members every Friday off next year, except for June.  Umm... 52 weeks and one Friday in each week.  I wonder what that adds up to... minus the holidays that are already scheduled.

Apparently, their days of working hard for the American people have been accomplished, so there's no need to exert themselves anymore.

The House majority leader, Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, told fellow Democrats this week that the House would not be in session next year on Fridays, except in June for work on appropriations bills.

Their work must be all done and they are pleased with their 20 plus percent approval ratings by We The People.

As opposed to last December when Hoyer set the schedule for 2007: Culture Shock on Capitol Hill: House to Work 5 Days a Week

Hoyer and other Democratic leaders say they are trying to repair the image of Congress, which was so anemic this year it could not meet a basic duty: to approve spending bills that fund government. By the time the gavel comes down on the 109th Congress on Friday, members will have worked a total of 103 days. That's seven days fewer than the infamous "Do-Nothing Congress" of 1948.

So Hoyer has decided to give republicans what they want, as expressed last December:

"Keeping us up here eats away at families," said Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), who typically flies home on Thursdays and returns to Washington on Tuesdays. "Marriages suffer. The Democrats could care less about families -- that's what this says."

There has been some speculation (although I can't find that link right now) that said some republicans aren't running again because it's too time-consuming for them.  Well, now, lookie, lookie, they have so many more days off.  Steny said so.  I wonder if these newly-found days off will factor into their decision for re-election.  

But that doesn't matter.  Oh, wait, yes, it does.  

Retirements beginning to put House out of GOP's grasp

One reason the Republicans are leaving is because it's no fun to be in the minority in the House. The minority party in the Senate has some power. The minority party in the House is powerless.

I know people who commute at least one hour, if not more, each way to work every day, five days a week.  That commute becomes longer if traffic is worse.  So that's ten hours a week for commuting... equal to two, one-way plane rides of five hours.

Except those everyday commuters I speak of don't have a month off in August, a week for almost every Federal holiday, several weeks during Christmas and New Years, and yet somehow, they manage to find time for their families and get rest.  If it's good enough for the regular, everyday folk, then it's good enough for Congress... especially since we pay their salaries.  Not to mention that any Representative can take any day off they want, without having to call in sick or get docked pay for not coming to work.

So again, thank you Mr. Hoyer and Ms. Pelosi for your excellent leadership and commitment to... well, I haven't quite understood what your commitment is to, but I'm hoping one day it will be clear to me.  Enjoy your days off... I'll be working.  But I sure hope I can find time to vote on election day.